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Scots earn more than English workers

Published: February 12, 2016

Scottish workers are more likely to earn more than their English counterparts, according to new research.

Findings published by think-tank the Resolution Foundation revealed that Scots are being paid more per hour than English people for the first time since records began.In its report entitled ‘The State of Working Scotland’, figures showed that the typical pay in Scotland is now £11.92 per hour. On the other hand, those in England usually get around £11.84 per hour on average.

Speaking about the findings, Conor D’Arcy, policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said: “As recently as a decade ago, typical workers in England earned significantly more than their counterparts in Scotland. But years of stronger pay growth in Scotland means that the English pay premium has now become Scottish pay premium for the first time ever.

“Scotland’s impressive pay performance has been underpinned by high employment and steady economic growth, particularly in the run up to the crash. But its recent employment and growth record has been less impressive.”

According to the analysis, pay in Scotland had grown faster than it has in any other nation or region in the UK over the last 20 years. The north-east in particular, experienced the biggest wage growth. In 2004, typical hourly pay in Scotland was 7.2 per cent lower than in England.However, by 2009, strong wage growth in the mid-2000s reduced the gap to just 2.9 per cent.

Commenting on the findings, a UK government spokesperson, said: “Our long-term economic plan has created the conditions under which Scotland is thriving as part of the UK. In Scotland, growth is strong and wages are rising as part of the UK’s growing economy.

“The new national living wage will provide a further boost – up to 230,000 people in Scotland are expected to benefit by 2020 once it is introduced in April this year.”

Mitrefinch offers payroll software that makes it easier for firms to keep track of financial data for all of their employees.

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